Kurt Cobain's Nevermind guitar to go on display in the UK
Kurt Cobain's famous MTV Unplugged guitar is going on public display in the UK at the Royal College of Music Museum for the first time.
Kurt Cobain's famous MTV Unplugged guitar is going on public display in the UK for the first time.
The late Nirvana frontman played the Martin D-18E instrument during the group's iconic performance in November 1993 - just five months before he took his own life - and it will be a central part of an exhibition at the Royal College of Music Museum.
The 'Kurt Cobain Unplugged' exhibition from journalist Alan di Perna and curator Gabriele Rossi Rognoni will also feature the green cardigan the singer wore during the gig, as well as Kurt's personal archives and a slew of other Nirvana memorabilia including gig posters and collectable vinyl.
The exhibition will run from 3 June until 18 November and tickets, costing £5, will go on sale on 30 April.
The instrument was the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction in 2020 when RØDE Microphones founder Peter Freedman bought it for over $6 million.
The entrepreneur said: “I am delighted that this exhibition will premiere at the Royal College of Music, bringing Cobain’s guitar to the UK for the first time and inspiring a new generation of musicians.”
When he bought the guitar, Peter explained he wasn't planning to keep it forever but was keen to use it to "highlight the plight of artists" around the world when he did own it.
He said at the time: “I paid for it but I’m going to use it to highlight the plight of artists worldwide by touring it around and then I’m going to sell it and use the dough for that as well, later."
Two years ago, Kurt's smashed black Fender Stratocaster fetched an “astounding” sum of nearly $600,000 at auction.
The battered guitar was destroyed as Nirvana were working on their break-out album ‘Nevermind’ in the early 1990s and was sold at the Hard Rock Café in New York after it was projected to sell for a fraction of the final amount.
Kody Frederick from Julien’s Auctions said: “The man was angry, and you could feel that on stage. And you would feel that by the way he would treat his instruments."
The Fender went on sale with an estimated price of $60,000 to $80,000, with Julien’s calling the closing bid of $596,900 “astounding”.
Its shattered pieces were meticulously reassembled, although it is now non-functional.
The instrument is signed by all three Nirvana band members in a silver marker and features an affectionate inscription by Kurt to his late friend and musical collaborator Mark Lanegan.
Kurt – who often misspelt his name, signed the instrument ‘Kurdt Kobain’ – adding novelty value to the lot.
